Brief case



S. H. LIFTON Sept. 19, 1939.

BRIEF CASE Filed June a, 195'? lNVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Samuel H. Litton, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application June 3, 1937, Serial No. 148,174

1 Claim.

The present invention is generally directed to brief cases or correspondents portfolios of the type comprising complementary swingable sections having front and rear flexible panels spaced apart by a split and flexible gusset carrying complementary readily disconnectible locking means for separating the split gusset to permit the sections' to be widely diverged whereby access may be readily had to the several appropriately positioned compartments within the case orportfolio. More particularly however the invention is concerned with an improved and relatively ged correspondents portfolio having means to simultaneously reinforce marginal portions of the panels and the split gusset to sustain the com plementary sections in a desired shape and prevent the collapse thereof and the primary object of the invention ,is realized in the provision of a novel correspondents portfolio wherein unitary means is utilized to reinforce a. panel and an associated partof the gusset whereby the margins of the panels are strengthened and the associated part of the gusset is also reinforced and prevented from collapsing. A further object of the invention is to provide a brief case of the character referred to wherein a strengthening or reinforcing member is arranged in corners formed by a panel of a section and an associated part of the gusset for the dual purpose of strengthening the margins of the panel and sustaining the desired shape of its associated part of the gusset. Further objects, features and advantages of the invention are, in part obvious and in part herein" after more particularly set forth in the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof my brief case acccording to the invention, illustrating the swingable sections thereof shown closed and locked.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the brief case however illustrating the swingable sections unlocked and opened.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sec onal view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an inside plan view of one of the complementary sections shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a" slightly modified section of a brief case.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 howeverillustrating another modification and Fig. 8. is a perspective view ofa reinforcing member utilized in connection with the form L shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

The brief case or portfolio A includes the swingably interconnected similar but opposing cornplementary sections B and C defined by a relatively elongated one piece flexiblebody In preferably of leather to which is secured the flexible rims H which also maybe of a suitable leather.

To the inner portions of the rims H is secured a strip of cloth I2 carrying a plurality of complementary interlocking hook members l3 (schematically shown) which cooperate with a slider or runner 14 adapted to interconnect or separate thehook members [3 and thus provide the conventional zipper connection well known in the art. More particularly however a section of the herein disclosed brief case may be said to include apart or panel 15 of the elongated flexible body It to which are secured rims H which in the closed relation of sections B and C as shown in Fig. 1 may be considered as an intervening gusset between the panels ii of the sections, which gusset is adapted to be conveniently split or separated upon displacement of rider ll whereby the sections may be swung away from each other to assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 in which case access may be readily had to the several compartments carried by each of the sections.

Hitherto and in so far as I am aware reinforcing means has been utilized in correspondents brief cases to prevent the collapse of the complementary parts or rims of the split gusset. In this connection attention is directed to United States Patent 2,067,851. In this type of construction although the lip portions of the complementary rims of the split gusset are reinforced the reinforcing means employed in no way cooperates to prevent buckling of the panels or strengthen the latter to prevent theirv collapse.

In other instances of the prior art reference may be made to reinforcement of panel sections without however strengthening means for the complementary rims of the split gusset and accordingly the present invention as heretofore alluded to, provides unitary means for carrying out the dual purpose of reinforcing the panels of the sections and the rims thereof by unitarystrengthening means in locating in the channel or grooves formed'thereby by appropriate stiifening means. In this connection reference is first made to Figs. 1-5 inclusive wherein a U shaped cylindrical resilient metal rod generally denoted I6 is anchored in each section B and C. In the particular instance illustrated, it will be noted that this reinforcing member has a crown l1 and depending legs I 8 confined adjacent the inner corners defined by a respective panel and rim. Particularly however a flexible relatively thin strip of leather or lining generallydenoted l8 has its outer marginal portion 20 initially fastened by stitching between the outer margin 2| of a panel l and the outwardly turned flange 22 of an associated rim ll. Thereafter a U shaped reinforcing rod is positioned on the flexible lining or wrapper I8 and moved to bear against the inner faces of an associated rim II, that is, the strengthening or reinforcing member I is positioned within the corner or channel formed by lining I 9 and its rim H or in other words contiguous to adjacent margins thereof. Subsequently the inner or free end 23 of the lining I9 is raised or lifted so that its intermediate portion 24 is wrapped closely about the stiifening rod l6 after which stitching 25 is applied to fasten the lining l9, associated strip I2 and the adjacent part of rim I I together.

By the present arrangement, the anchored lining I9 forms an intermediate bead closely confining the stiffening member I 6 substantially in the corner formed by a panel I 5 and its associated rim II, that is, the legs I! and even the crown l8 of its reinforcing member l6 are closely confined within the inner corners formed by its panel l5 and the rim or complementary part of the gusset. Consequently the panels I5 are strengthened by the stiffening member l8 and rims H are also strengthened and prevented from collapsing or losing their appearance.

In the form according to Figs. 1-5 inclusive the stiffening member in each of the panels is of an inverted U shape. If desired the strengthening means may be in several parts as illustrated in Fig. 6. In this form, elbows 26 formed from relatively resilient cylindrical rods may be utilized to reinforce the curved ends of each section while the straight parts thereof may be reinforced by rectilinear resilient cylindrical rods 21 all mounted and anchored in the manner as disclosed in connection with Figs. 1-5 for strengthening the rims and panels thereof simultaneously and if desired the rectilinear strengthening members 21 may be eliminated to form the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 wherein curved ends of sections are strengthened by elbows 21 only in the manner herein indicated.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the appended claim. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described.

I claim:

In a brief case, a flexible panel having an outer marginal portion, a flexible rim having a flange, a wrapper having an outer portion interposed between and secured to said outer marginal portion and said flange, said wrapper having an intermediate portion extending from an inner corner of said case defined by said panel and rim, a reinforcing member held by said wrapper within said case, said intermediate portion closely and firmly embracing said reinforcing member to tightly hold the latter contiguous to said corner and including an inner laterally extending marginal portion, a strip interposed between said rim and said inner marginal portion, a line of stitching adjacent said intermediate portion for tightly retaining said intermediate portion of said wrapper against said reinforcing member and for securing said inner marginal portion, strip and rim together, other stitch means for securing said rim and strip together, and lockable means carried by said strip.

SAMUEL H. LIFI'ON. 

